US9036545B2 - Exchanging presence information in a communications network - Google Patents

Exchanging presence information in a communications network Download PDF

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Publication number
US9036545B2
US9036545B2 US13/303,751 US201113303751A US9036545B2 US 9036545 B2 US9036545 B2 US 9036545B2 US 201113303751 A US201113303751 A US 201113303751A US 9036545 B2 US9036545 B2 US 9036545B2
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Prior art keywords
user device
sub
group
presence update
frequency
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US13/303,751
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US20120300698A1 (en
Inventor
Mark Lindner
Xiaona An
Shane Dewing
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Qualcomm Inc
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Qualcomm Inc
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Priority to US13/303,751 priority Critical patent/US9036545B2/en
Application filed by Qualcomm Inc filed Critical Qualcomm Inc
Priority to CN201180065072.9A priority patent/CN103314604B/zh
Priority to PCT/US2011/063994 priority patent/WO2012078903A1/en
Priority to JP2013543351A priority patent/JP6040160B2/ja
Priority to KR1020137017705A priority patent/KR101576929B1/ko
Priority to BR112013014295A priority patent/BR112013014295A2/pt
Priority to EP20110802831 priority patent/EP2649819B1/en
Priority to ES11802831.5T priority patent/ES2541286T3/es
Priority to CN201610153333.7A priority patent/CN105681465A/zh
Assigned to QUALCOMM INCORPORATED reassignment QUALCOMM INCORPORATED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AN, ANNA, LINDNER, MARK, DEWING, SHANE
Assigned to QUALCOMM INCORPORATED reassignment QUALCOMM INCORPORATED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AN, XIAONA, LINDNER, MARK, DEWING, SHANE
Publication of US20120300698A1 publication Critical patent/US20120300698A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US9036545B2 publication Critical patent/US9036545B2/en
Priority to JP2015199275A priority patent/JP6153983B2/ja
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/18—Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/54—Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
    • H04L67/24—
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
    • H04L65/40—Support for services or applications
    • H04L65/403—Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/06—Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
    • H04W4/08—User group management
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01—Protocols
    • H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
    • H04L67/104—Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01—Protocols
    • H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
    • H04L67/104—Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
    • H04L67/1044—Group management mechanisms 

Definitions

  • the disclosed embodiments pertain to networking and, in particular, to management of presence in relation to a network.
  • Wireless communication systems have developed through various generations, including a first-generation analog wireless phone service (1G), a second-generation (2G) digital wireless phone service (including interim 2.5G and 2.75G networks) and a third-generation (3G) high speed data/Internet-capable wireless service.
  • 1G first-generation analog wireless phone service
  • 2G second-generation digital wireless phone service
  • 3G third-generation
  • technologies including Cellular and Personal Communications Service (PCS) systems.
  • PCS Personal Communications Service
  • Examples of known cellular systems include the cellular Analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), the Global System for Mobile access (GSM) variation of TDMA, and newer hybrid digital communication systems using both TDMA and CDMA technologies.
  • CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
  • FDMA Frequency Division Multiple Access
  • OFDMA Orthogonal FDMA
  • TDMA Time Division
  • the method for providing CDMA mobile communications was standardized in the United States by the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industries Association in TIA/EIA/IS-95-A entitled “Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System,” referred to herein as IS-95.
  • Combined AMPS & CDMA systems are described in TIA/EIA Standard IS-98.
  • Other communications systems are described in the IMT-2000/UM, or International Mobile Telecommunications System 2000/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, standards covering what are referred to as wideband CDMA (W-CDMA), CDMA2000 (such as CDMA2000 1xEV-DO standards, for example) or TD-SCDMA.
  • Node Bs In W-CDMA wireless communication systems, user equipments (UEs) receive signals from fixed position Node Bs (also referred to as cell sites or cells) that support communication links or service within particular geographic regions adjacent to or surrounding the base stations.
  • Node Bs provide entry points to an access network (AN)/radio access network (RAN), which is generally a packet data network using standard Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) based protocols that support methods for differentiating traffic based on Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. Therefore, the Node Bs generally interacts with UEs through an over the air interface and with the RAN through Internet Protocol (IP) network data packets.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • the user devices may store address books that list particular persons and businesses, and their respective telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
  • a user may initiate a communication with a party listed in the address book by entering appropriate commands, for example through the device's user interface. Only if the called party answers the call does the device user know that the calling party is available and willing to partake in a discussion. If the called party does not answer the call, the user of the device may have wasted time initiating the call. This process repeats if the user of the device wishes to make a second attempt, this time using alternate means, for example sending a text message to the same telephone number, or using another telephone number from the address book, or sending an e-mail message.
  • the above examples are for initiating communication with one called party. Additional activities are required for initiating a group communication through the user device connected to a wireless system. For example, a user may first provide a conference call vendor service with a list of invitees, and the vendor service may then send an e-mail invitation to each. Even if the user requests acceptance prior to a deadline earlier than the scheduled time of the conference call, the user will not know for certain who will in fact attend until the conference call begins. In addition, if the user determines from the acceptance count that the number of attendees will be too small, or that certain key persons will not attend, then the user must reschedule, and have another set of invitations sent.
  • the disclosure relates to decentralized presence management within a communications system performed at a user device.
  • An embodiment of the disclosure comprises selectively updating at least one frequency at which the user device transmits presence update messages to one or more other user devices that belong to a contact group associated with the user device.
  • the embodiment further comprises transmitting one or more presence update messages in accordance with the selectively updated frequency.
  • Another embodiment of the disclosure comprises obtaining a subset of contacts of a subscriber operating the user device that form a presence update group.
  • the embodiment further comprises identifying a plurality of sub-groups within the presence update group based on priorities of the subset of contacts.
  • the embodiment further comprises transmitting one or more presence update messages to less than all of the identified plurality of sub-groups.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram of a wireless network architecture that supports user equipment and networks in accordance with at least one embodiment.
  • FIG. 2A illustrates the core network of FIG. 1 according to an example embodiment.
  • FIG. 2B illustrates an example of a wireless communications system of FIG. 1 in more detail.
  • FIG. 3 is an illustration of user equipment in accordance with at least one embodiment.
  • FIG. 4A depicts an example embodiment for updating the frequency of the user devices sending update requests.
  • FIG. 4B depicts an example embodiment for updating the number of subscribers maintained in the presence update groups being maintained by the user device.
  • FIG. 5 is a functional block flow diagram showing one example presence method according to at least one embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 shows one example of organizational scheme for local monitoring of active subscriber status, for practicing according to one or more example embodiments.
  • FIG. 7 shows one example of a local display scheme for practicing according to one or more example embodiments.
  • FIG. 8 is a functional block flow diagram showing one example presence method according to at least one embodiment, combined with a functional flow of one method according to one “off the record” aspect.
  • FIG. 9 is a functional block flow diagram showing one example presence communication according to one channel option aspect.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a communication device that includes logic configured to perform functionality.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a wireless communications system 100 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
  • System 100 can contain UEs, such as cellular telephone 102 , in communication across an air interface 104 with an access network or radio access network (RAN) 120 that can connect the access terminal 102 to network equipment providing data connectivity between a packet switched data network (e.g., an intranet, the Internet, and/or core network 126 ) and the UEs 102 , 108 , 110 , 112 .
  • a packet switched data network e.g., an intranet, the Internet, and/or core network 126
  • the UE can be a cellular telephone 102 , a personal digital assistant 108 , a pager 110 , which is shown here as a two-way text pager, or even a separate computer platform 112 that has a wireless communication portal.
  • Embodiments of the invention can thus be realized on any form of access terminal including a wireless communication portal or having wireless communication capabilities, including without limitation, wireless modems, PCMCIA cards, personal computers, telephones, or any combination or sub-combination thereof.
  • the term “UE” in other communication protocols may be referred to interchangeably as an “access terminal,” “AT,” “wireless device,” “client device,” “mobile terminal,” “mobile station” and variations thereof.
  • System 100 is merely exemplary and can include any system that allows remote UEs, such as wireless client computing devices 102 , 108 , 110 , 112 to communicate over-the-air between and among each other and/or between and among components connected via the air interface 104 and RAN 120 , including, without limitation, core network 126 , the Internet, PSTN, SGSN, GGSN and/or other remote servers.
  • remote UEs such as wireless client computing devices 102 , 108 , 110 , 112 to communicate over-the-air between and among each other and/or between and among components connected via the air interface 104 and RAN 120 , including, without limitation, core network 126 , the Internet, PSTN, SGSN, GGSN and/or other remote servers.
  • the RAN 120 controls messages (typically sent as data packets) sent to a RNC 122 .
  • the RNC 122 is responsible for signaling, establishing, and tearing down bearer channels (i.e., data channels) between a Serving General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) and the UEs 102 / 108 / 110 / 112 . If link layer encryption is enabled, the RNC 122 also encrypts the content before forwarding it over the air interface 104 .
  • the function of the RNC 122 is well-known in the art and will not be discussed further for the sake of brevity.
  • the core network 126 may communicate with the RNC 122 by a network, the Internet and/or a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
  • PSTN public switched telephone network
  • the RNC 122 may connect directly to the Internet or external network.
  • the network or Internet connection between the core network 126 and the RNC 122 transfers data, and the PSTN transfers voice information.
  • the RNC 122 can be connected to multiple NodeBs 124 .
  • the RNC 122 is typically connected to the NodeBs 124 by a network, the Internet and/or PSTN for data transfer and/or voice information.
  • the NodeBs 124 can broadcast data messages wirelessly to the UEs, such as cellular telephone 102 .
  • the NodeBs 124 , RNC 122 and other components may form the RAN 120 , as is known in the art.
  • the functionality of the RNC 122 and one or more of the NodeBs 124 may be collapsed into a single “hybrid” module having the functionality of both the RNC 122 and the NodeB(s) 124 .
  • FIG. 2A illustrates the core network 126 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2A illustrates components of a General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) core network implemented within a W-CDMA system.
  • the core network 126 includes a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 160 , a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 165 and an Internet 175 .
  • SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node
  • GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
  • Internet 175 an Internet 175 .
  • portions of the Internet 175 and/or other components may be located outside the core network in alternative embodiments.
  • GPRS is a protocol used by Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) phones for transmitting Internet Protocol (IP) packets.
  • GSM Global System for Mobile communications
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • the GPRS Core Network e.g., the GGSN 165 and one or more SGSNs 160
  • the GPRS core network is an integrated part of the GSM core network, provides mobility management, session management and transport for IP packet services in GSM and W-CDMA networks.
  • the GPRS Tunneling Protocol is the defining IP protocol of the GPRS core network.
  • the GTP is the protocol which allows end users (e.g., access terminals) of a GSM or W-CDMA network to move from place to place while continuing to connect to the internet as if from one location at the GGSN 165 . This is achieved transferring the subscriber's data from the subscriber's current SSGN 160 to the GGSN 165 , which is handling the subscriber's session.
  • GTP-U is used for transfer of user data in separated tunnels for each packet data protocol (PDP) context.
  • PDP packet data protocol
  • GTP-C is used for control signaling (e.g., setup and deletion of PDP contexts, verification of GSN reach-ability, updates or modifications such as when a subscriber moves from one SGSN to another, etc.).
  • GTP′ is used for transfer of charging data from GSNs to a charging function.
  • the GGSN 165 acts as an interface between the GPRS backbone network (not shown) and the external packet data network 175 .
  • the GGSN 165 extracts the packet data with associated packet data protocol (PDP) format (e.g., IP or PPP) from the GPRS packets coming from the SGSN 160 , and sends the packets out on a corresponding packet data network.
  • PDP packet data protocol
  • the incoming data packets are directed by the GGSN 165 to the SGSN 160 which manages and controls the Radio Access Bearer (RAB) of the destination UE served by the RAN 120 .
  • RAB Radio Access Bearer
  • the GGSN 165 stores the current SGSN address of the target UE and his/her profile in its location register (e.g., within a PDP context).
  • the GGSN is responsible for IP address assignment and is the default router for the connected UE.
  • the GGSN also performs authentication and charging functions.
  • the SGSN 160 is representative of one of many SGSNs within the core network 126 , in an example. Each SGSN is responsible for the delivery of data packets from and to the UEs within an associated geographical service area. The tasks of the SGSN 160 includes packet routing and transfer, mobility management (e.g., attach/detach and location management), logical link management, and authentication and charging functions.
  • the location register of the SGSN stores location information (e.g., current cell, current VLR) and user profiles (e.g., IMSI, PDP address(es) used in the packet data network) of all GPRS users registered with the SGSN 160 , for example, within one or more PDP contexts for each user or UE.
  • location information e.g., current cell, current VLR
  • user profiles e.g., IMSI, PDP address(es) used in the packet data network
  • SGSNs are responsible for (i) de-tunneling downlink GTP packets from the GGSN 165 , (ii) uplink tunnel IP packets toward the GGSN 165 , (iii) carrying out mobility management as UEs move between SGSN service areas and (iv) billing mobile subscribers.
  • SGSNs configured for GSM/EDGE networks have slightly different functionality as compared to SGSNs configured for W-CDMA networks.
  • the RAN 120 communicates with the SGSN 160 via an Iu interface, with a transmission protocol such as Frame Relay or IP.
  • the SGSN 160 communicates with the GGSN 165 via a Gn interface, which is an IP-based interface between SGSN 160 and other SGSNs (not shown) and internal GGSNs, and uses the GTP protocol defined above (e.g., GTP-U, GTP-C, GTP′, etc.). While not shown in FIG. 2A , the Gn interface is also used by the Domain Name System (DNS).
  • the GGSN 165 is connected to a Public Data Network (PDN) (not shown), and in turn to the Internet 175 , via a Gi interface with IP protocols either directly or through a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) gateway.
  • PDN Public Data Network
  • WAP Wireless Application Protocol
  • the PDP context is a data structure present on both the SGSN 160 and the GGSN 165 which contains a particular UE's communication session information when the UE has an active GPRS session.
  • the UE When a UE wishes to initiate a GPRS communication session, the UE must first attach to the SGSN 160 and then activate a PDP context with the GGSN 165 . This allocates a PDP context data structure in the SGSN 160 that the subscriber is currently visiting and the GGSN 165 serving the UE's access point.
  • FIG. 2B illustrates an example of the wireless communications system 100 of FIG. 1 in more detail.
  • UEs 1 . . . N are shown as connecting to the RAN 120 at locations serviced by different packet data network end-points.
  • the illustration of FIG. 2B is specific to W-CDMA systems and terminology, although it will be appreciated how FIG. 2B could be modified to confirm with a 1x EV-DO system.
  • UEs 1 and 3 connect to the RAN 120 at a portion served by a first packet data network end-point 162 (e.g., which may correspond to SGSN, GGSN, PDSN, a home agent (HA), a foreign agent (FA), etc.).
  • a first packet data network end-point 162 e.g., which may correspond to SGSN, GGSN, PDSN, a home agent (HA), a foreign agent (FA), etc.
  • the first packet data network end-point 162 in turn connects, via the routing unit 188 , to the Internet 175 and/or to one or more of an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server 182 , a provisioning server 184 , an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)/Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Registration Server 186 and/or the application server 170 .
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • IMS Internet Multimedia Subsystem
  • SIP Session Initiation Protocol
  • UEs 2 and 5 . . . N connect to the RAN 120 at a portion served by a second packet data network end-point 164 (e.g., which may correspond to SGSN, GGSN, PDSN, FA, HA, etc.).
  • the second packet data network end-point 164 in turn connects, via the routing unit 188 , to the Internet 175 and/or to one or more of the AAA server 182 , a provisioning server 184 , an IMS/SIP Registration Server 186 and/or the application server 170 .
  • UE 4 connects directly to the Internet 175 , and through the Internet 175 can then connect to any of the system components described above.
  • UEs 1 , 3 and 5 . . . N are illustrated as wireless cell-phones, UE 2 is illustrated as a wireless tablet-PC and UE 4 is illustrated as a wired desktop station.
  • the wireless communication system 100 can connect to any type of UE, and the examples illustrated in FIG. 2B are not intended to limit the types of UEs that may be implemented within the system.
  • the AAA 182 , the provisioning server 184 , the IMS/SIP registration server 186 and the application server 170 are each illustrated as structurally separate servers, one or more of these servers may be consolidated in at least one embodiment of the invention.
  • the application server 170 is illustrated as including a plurality of media control complexes (MCCs) 1 . . . N 170 B, and a plurality of regional dispatchers 1 . . . N 170 A.
  • MCCs media control complexes
  • the regional dispatchers 170 A and MCCs 170 B are included within the application server 170 , which in at least one embodiment can correspond to a distributed network of servers that collectively functions to arbitrate communication sessions (e.g., half-duplex group communication sessions via IP unicasting and/or IP multicasting protocols) within the wireless communication system 100 .
  • the communication sessions arbitrated by the application server 170 can theoretically take place between UEs located anywhere within the system 100 , multiple regional dispatchers 170 A and MCCs are distributed to reduce latency for the arbitrated communication sessions (e.g., so that a MCC in North America is not relaying media back-and-forth between session participants located in China).
  • the associated functionality can be enforced by one or more of the regional dispatchers 170 A and/or one or more of the MCCs 170 B.
  • the regional dispatchers 170 A are generally responsible for any functionality related to establishing a communication session (e.g., handling signaling messages between the UEs, scheduling and/or sending announce messages, etc.), whereas the MCCs 170 B are responsible for hosting the communication session for the duration of the call instance, including conducting an in-call signaling and an actual exchange of media during an arbitrated communication session.
  • a UE 200 (here a wireless device), such as a cellular telephone, has a platform 202 that can receive and execute software applications, data and/or commands transmitted from the RAN 120 that may ultimately come from the core network 126 , the Internet and/or other remote servers and networks.
  • the platform 202 can include a transceiver 206 operably coupled to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 208 , or other processor, microprocessor, logic circuit, or other data processing device.
  • ASIC 208 or other processor executes the application programming interface (API) 210 layer that interfaces with any resident programs in the memory 212 of the wireless device.
  • API application programming interface
  • the memory 212 can be comprised of read-only or random-access memory (RAM and ROM), EEPROM, flash cards, or any memory common to computer platforms.
  • the platform 202 also can include a local database 214 that can hold applications not actively used in memory 212 .
  • the local database 214 is typically a flash memory cell, but can be any secondary storage device as known in the art, such as magnetic media, EEPROM, optical media, tape, soft or hard disk, or the like.
  • the internal platform 202 components can also be operably coupled to external devices such as antenna 222 , display 224 , push-to-talk button 228 and keypad 226 among other components, as is known in the art.
  • an embodiment of the invention can include a UE including the ability to perform the functions described herein.
  • the various logic elements can be embodied in discrete elements, software modules executed on a processor or any combination of software and hardware to achieve the functionality disclosed herein.
  • ASIC 208 , memory 212 , API 210 and local database 214 may all be used cooperatively to load, store and execute the various functions disclosed herein and thus the logic to perform these functions may be distributed over various elements.
  • the functionality could be incorporated into one discrete component. Therefore, the features of the UE 200 in FIG. 3 are to be considered merely illustrative and the invention is not limited to the illustrated features or arrangement.
  • the wireless communication between the UE 102 or 200 and the RAN 120 can be based on different technologies, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), W-CDMA, time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), or other protocols that may be used in a wireless communications network or a data communications network.
  • CDMA code division multiple access
  • W-CDMA time division multiple access
  • FDMA frequency division multiple access
  • OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
  • GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
  • the data communication is typically between the client device 102 , Node B(s) 124 , and the RNC 122 .
  • the RNC 122 can be connected to multiple data networks such as the core network 126 , PSTN, the Internet, a virtual private network, a SGSN, a GGSN and the like, thus allowing the UE 102 or 200 access to a broader communication network.
  • voice transmission and/or data can be transmitted to the UEs from the RAN using a variety of networks and configurations. Accordingly, the illustrations provided herein are not intended to limit the embodiments of the invention and are merely to aid in the description of aspects of embodiments of the invention.
  • embodiments of the invention are generally described in accordance with W-CDMA protocols and associated terminology (e.g., such as UE instead of mobile station (MS), mobile unit (MU), access terminal (AT), etc., RNC, contrasted with BSC in EV-DO, or Node B, contrasted with BS or MPT/BS in EV-DO, etc.).
  • W-CDMA protocols e.g., such as UE instead of mobile station (MS), mobile unit (MU), access terminal (AT), etc., RNC, contrasted with BSC in EV-DO, or Node B, contrasted with BS or MPT/BS in EV-DO, etc.
  • a subscriber social communication system may have a plurality of subscribers, and each subscriber may have a definable set of privileges to access, participate in and conduct various kinds of communications within the subscriber system.
  • Subscriber user devices may be any of the previously described types and kinds of the user devices, e.g., cellular telephones, PDAs, and net books.
  • a “user device” may not necessarily be a hardware unit that is unique to a particular subscriber.
  • a subscriber may be provided with a portable authorization/verification mechanism permitting the subscriber to temporarily configure a user-accessible device to have that subscriber's usual social network configurations and settings, including public profile (with respect to the social network) authorizations, internal priority settings, privacy settings, and other interface with other subscribers, each of which will be described in greater detail at later sections.
  • a subscriber's user device establishes and dynamically updates a list or other local database indicating other subscribers with which that subscriber is communicating, or has communicated, and indicating the current status of each in relation to the network. Criteria and rules for sorting the list, adding, maintaining and removing other subscribers from the list, include the user device's currently stored characterization of other subscribers' presence, recency of communication with such other subscribers, alphabetical order as well as other criteria and rules that will be described in greater detail later.
  • Presence Update Group this list or database of subscribers meeting these criteria, which may be maintained locally by each subscriber's user device(s), will be termed a “Presence Update Group.” It will be understood that the phrase “Presence Update Group” is an arbitrary name used for purposes of reference within this disclosure, and that the phrase is not intended to have, or convey any meaning as to any particular method, act, graphical form, arrangement, order of carrying out acts, or structure(s).
  • the Presence Update Group includes a set of contacts for a particular subscriber to which that subscriber directs presence status updates (e.g., notifying the Presence Update Group when the subscriber is busy, available, etc.) and also for which the subscriber receives presence status updates (e.g., indicating whether the contact(s) are busy, available, etc.).
  • the subscriber can include one or more additional contacts that are not part of the Presence Update Group, such that the Presence Update Group can correspond to a subset of the subscriber's contacts in certain implementations.
  • entries or records in the Presence Update Group identifying another subscriber's user device characterize that subscriber's participation and availability, or presence, with respect to a network that may be shared, in whole or in part, among such subscribers.
  • the state of the presence is defined by various parameters that, collectively, may be represented by a “presence value” or “PV.”
  • a given subscriber's user device may be configured to update its Presence Update Group to maintain in its Presence Update Group only such other subscribers that the instant subscriber's user device is likely, in a near term, to have communication.
  • this feature provides a reduction in unnecessary processing and storage in the user devices, and further provides for reduction in unnecessary messaging overhead due to the user devices updating their Presence Update Group to reflect status changes of irrelevant user devices.
  • the Presence Update Group may correspond to a reduced list or subset of contacts from the given subscriber's contact book.
  • a given subscriber's user device may estimate a likelihood of future communication with a contact based on current participation in a communication between the given subscriber's user device and the contact and, to a lesser extent, recent participation in a communication between the given subscriber's user device and the contact.
  • the user device may maintain a PV for subscriber groups with which the subscriber is in current communication, or groups with which the subscriber has recently participated—with “groups” being described in greater detail at later sections.
  • each subscriber group may correspond to a sub-group of the Presence Update Group.
  • a given subscriber's user device in maintaining its own Presence Update Group, can interact with other user devices in a manner further providing a distributed, dynamic updating of the local Presence Update Group.
  • the given subscriber's user device may be configured to dictate when to transmit, to other subscribers' user devices, requests for updated information characterizing the other user devices' presence in the network. For brevity, these requests will be referred to hereinafter as “PV update requests.”
  • the sending user device uses the responses in updating (including removing) entries from its Presence Update Group.
  • the user devices may be configured to dictate the timing of sending the PV update requests in a manner to meet efficiency objectives regarding messaging overhead and frequency of updating the Presence Update Group.
  • the given subscriber's user devices may send PV update requests for entries in their Presence Update Group based on the length of time since the user device last received a PV update from that particular other subscriber. Further to this aspect, the given subscriber's user device may be configured to establish and maintain a timeout counter for each of the subscribers in its Presence Update Group. Another example criteria may be user-selectable priorities, or application-specific priorities, e.g., whether or not the communications with the other subscriber in the Presence Update Group are pursuant to interactive real-time activities.
  • the given subscriber's user device may be configured to detect and utilize one or more triggering events in determining when to send PV update requests.
  • a triggering event may be an initial switch-on, or power-up of the given subscriber's user device, from a previous power-down state.
  • Other triggering events may be the given subscriber unlocking his/her user device (e.g., entering an alphanumeric unlock code), or the given subscriber initiating, e.g., via a touch-screen icon on the user device, an application to perform social networking.
  • the given subscriber's user device may be configured to cease updating its Presence Update Group when that user device is locked, to conserve battery power and/or to reduce unnecessary message traffic on the network.
  • This aspect may couple with the above-described example triggering event of sending a PV update request upon unlocking the user device.
  • the given subscriber's user device according to this aspect may be configured to distinguish between different modes of user device lock in determining whether to cease updating the Presence Update Group.
  • a user device may have one lock mode for preventing unauthorized persons from using the device, and another lock mode for preventing inadvertent key pressing, e.g., as may occur when placed in a user's pocket.
  • the latter lock mode may be called an “inadvertent key disabling lock mode.”
  • the subscriber may wish to maintain Presence Update Group updating while the user device is in the inadvertent key disabling lock mode.
  • the given subscriber's user device may be configured to cease updating its Presence Update Group, the visual representation of its Presence Update Group, or both, when it is likely that the subscriber is not looking at the device's display, e.g. when the subscriber has put it down or is on a call and is holding it at his or her ear.
  • the user device may cease updating its Presence Update Group as soon as it senses that it has been put down (e.g. has become motionless or any movement is less than a threshold) or that the subscriber is on a call, or after a threshold period of time has elapsed.
  • the user device may also use other information in conjunction with sensing that it has been put down.
  • the device may assume that the subscriber is sleeping and cease updating its Presence Update Group.
  • the user device can sense that the subscriber has put it down by leveraging the user device's gyroscope and accelerometer, as would be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
  • a user device may be configured to reduce its frequency of, or to cease sending PV update requests when the given subscriber's user device is executing an application that is likely to continue execution for an extended (e.g., a relatively long or non-transient period) duration, e.g., a media player or game.
  • an extended duration e.g., a media player or game.
  • the given subscriber's user device may include its own updated PV in one or more of its PV update requests issued to the Presence Update Group. For example, each time a target subscriber's user device receives a PV update request from a sending user device, the target user device is able to update its Presence Update Group to reflect the sending user device's updated PV. As will be appreciated, this feature may reduce the aggregate traffic resulting from the subscribers' respective user devices continuously updating their Presence Update Group.
  • the above-described and other features of the exemplary embodiments provide, among other benefits, a distributed monitoring that reduces the need for centralized server-based control and, further, provides a stable, self-adaptive social networking system that can handle increased, and varying subscriber loads, without server-related bottlenecks.
  • FIG. 4A illustrates a process of updating a frequency at which a given user device sends PV update requests.
  • the given subscriber's user device (“UE 1 ”) determines presence information associated with UE 1 (e.g., UE 1 is busy, UE 1 is available), 500 A.
  • the presence information (e.g., PV) determined at 500 A can be relative to a particular multimedia application client, such that the presence information determined at 500 A is indicative of the given subscriber's presence or availability to participate in communication sessions associated with the multimedia application client (e.g., VoIP communication sessions, PTT communication sessions, etc.).
  • the target contacts in the Presence Update Group can correspond to contacts of the given subscriber that also use a version of the multimedia application client.
  • the presence information can be based on an operational state associated with the multimedia application client (e.g., the presence information can indicate whether the multimedia application client is executing in a foreground or prominent portion of the UE 1 's execution environment, whether the multimedia application client is executing in a background or non-prominent portion of the UE 1 's execution environment, etc.).
  • the Presence Update Group may be partitioned into one or more sub-groups, with each of the one or more sub-groups being populated with contacts having a given priority level or being within a given priority level range.
  • a target presence update frequency can then be assigned to each sub-group, resulting in the first set of frequencies at which the presence update messages are transmitted in 505 A.
  • a sub-group with high-priority contacts can be assigned a higher frequency as compared to a sub-group with low-priority contacts.
  • the presence information determined at 500 A can affect the first set of frequencies. For example, if the presence information determined at 500 A indicates that the multicast application client is executing in a foreground or prominent portion of UE 1 's execution environment, the first set of frequencies can be set to a higher level (e.g., for one sub-group, for each sub-group, etc.).
  • the first set of frequencies can be set to a lower level (e.g., for one sub-group, for each sub-group, etc.).
  • the presence update messages can be configured to further request presence information from the targeted contacts or sub-groups.
  • the Presence Update Group includes N sub-groups, where N ⁇ 2, and that UE 1 transmits the presence update messages to each contact in each of the N sub-groups in 505 A in accordance with the first set of frequencies (e.g., which can vary from sub-group to sub-group as noted above, based on the respective priorities of the sub-groups and/or the contacts within the respective sub-groups, such that UE 1 can transmit presence update messages to sub-group 1 at a first frequency and UE 1 can transmit presence update messages to sub-group 2 at a second frequency, and so on).
  • each contact in each of sub-groups 1 . . . N receives at least one presence update message transmitted by UE 1 at 505 A and provides presence update feedback to UE 1 , 510 A and 515 A.
  • each contact in sub-groups 1 . . . N receives UE 1 's presence update message(s) in accordance with one of the first set of frequencies in 505 A, and responds with its own presence update message that updates UE 1 with respect to the presence information (or PV) of the contact providing the feedback.
  • UE 1 determines whether to update the first set of frequencies, 520 A. For example, in 520 A, UE 1 may determine to update the first set of frequencies based on a number of the one or more other contacts (or user devices) to which the update will be sent. In this example, if the number of target contacts has increased above a threshold level, at least one of the first set of frequencies is reduced to maintain system traffic at a manageable level. In an alternative example, if the number of target contacts has decreased below a threshold level, at least one of the first set of frequencies is increased because fewer target contacts permits more presence update messages to be transmitted without increasing overall system traffic.
  • UE 1 may determine to update the first set of frequencies based on an amount of time since a previous presence update message was received from one or more contacts belonging to sub-groups 1 . . . N. For example, UE 1 may determine to increase a given frequency from the first set of frequencies allocated to a given sub-group if the amount of time since a previous presence update message was received from the given sub-group is below a time threshold, and UE 1 may determine to decrease the given frequency if the amount of time since a previous presence update message was received from the given sub-group is above a time threshold.
  • UE 1 may determine a set of priorities associated with sub-groups 1 . . . N (e.g., the priorities of the constituent UEs within the sub-groups, or a priority profile associated with the sub-groups themselves). The determined set of priorities is then used to determine whether to update the first set of frequencies. For example, if the set of priorities indicates that sub-group 1 is associated with a higher priority than sub-group 2 and the first set of frequencies allocates a higher frequency to sub-group 2 than sub-group 1 , UE 1 may determine to update the first set of frequencies to produce a second set of frequencies that increases the frequency allocated to sub-group 1 and/or decreases the frequency allocated to sub-group 2 .
  • a set of priorities associated with sub-groups 1 . . . N e.g., the priorities of the constituent UEs within the sub-groups, or a priority profile associated with the sub-groups themselves.
  • the determined set of priorities is then used to determine whether to update the first set of frequencies. For example,
  • UE 1 may determine to update the first set of priorities based in part upon whether UE 1 is locked. For example, UE 1 determines a type of lock (if any) applied to UE 1 and then determines whether to update the first set of frequencies based on the determined type of lock. This aspect is described below in more detail.
  • UE 1 may determine a duration that UE 1 is expected to remain operating or executing a particular application on UE 1 . If the determined duration is greater than a threshold duration, UE 1 may determine to update the first set of frequencies in 520 A. In a specific example, UE 1 may determine to decrease one or more of the first set of frequencies based on the determination that UE 1 will be engaged with the application for more than the threshold duration.
  • one or more user devices operated by one or more contacts of the subscriber may not wish to receive and/or transmit presence update messages at the frequency UE 1 determined for them in step 505 A.
  • a contact's user device may transmit presence update feedback to UE 1 that includes a policy indicating that it wishes to receive and/or send presence update messages only at a certain frequency, or no more frequently than a maximum rate.
  • UE 1 may determine in step 505 A to send a particular contact's user device a presence update message, including a request for presence information, every ten minutes.
  • That contact's user device may determine that it wants to receive and/or send presence update messages to UE 1 , or possibly to all of the contacts in its Presence Update Group, only once an hour. In that case, it would send a policy to UE 1 in response to receiving a presence update message from UE 1 indicating that rule. UE 1 would then update the frequency at which it transmits presence update messages to that contact's user device. In another example, UE 1 may determine in step 505 A to send a particular contact or group of contacts a presence update message, including a request for presence information, every 5 minutes.
  • the process returns to 500 A and UE 1 continues to send presence information to sub-groups 1 . . . N in accordance with the first set of frequencies in 505 A. Otherwise, if UE 1 determines to update the first set of frequencies in 520 A, UE 1 calculates a second set of frequencies and then transmits the presence update messages to sub-groups 1 . . . N in accordance with the second set of frequencies, 525 A. While not shown explicitly in FIG. 4A , the presence update messages transmitted at 525 A can also include feedback requests to solicit presence update feedback as discussed above with respect to 505 A, 510 A, and 515 A.
  • FIG. 4B depicts a process of updating a number of subscribers maintained in the Presence Update Group being maintained by the given user device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • UE 1 determines presence information associated with UE 1 (e.g., UE 1 is busy, UE 1 is available), 500 B.
  • the determination of 500 B is similar to the determination of 500 A of FIG. 5A discussed above, and as such will not be discussed further for the sake of brevity.
  • UE 1 also obtains a Presence Update Group in step 505 B that includes a set of contacts of the given subscriber operating the user device for which the given subscriber is to exchange presence information, such as the presence information determined at 500 B.
  • the Presence Update Group may comprise all of the given subscriber's contacts stored in a list of contacts on UE 1 .
  • the set of contacts in the Presence Update Group may correspond to a subset of contacts of the given subscriber (e.g., where the given subscriber's presence information is relative to a particular multimedia application client, the subset of contacts can include contacts that also use a version of the multimedia application client).
  • the contacts in the Presence Update Group may be divided into one or more sub-groups, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 4A , which are identified by UE 1 in 510 B.
  • the identification of the plurality of sub-groups at 510 B can correspond to (i) an initial generation of the plurality of sub-groups, (ii) a modification or updating to a pre-existing set of sub-groups or (iii) a loading of the pre-existing set of sub-groups at UE 1 (e.g., from local memory or external memory).
  • each of the one or more sub-groups corresponding to contacts having a given priority level or being within a given priority level range.
  • Each sub-group contains one or more contacts, for example, exemplary Sub-Group 1 shown in FIG. 4B contains contacts associated with UEs 2 . . . N, where N ⁇ 3 contact.
  • each of the contacts in the Presence Update Group is evaluated against a set of one or more criteria and assigned a priority based on the evaluation.
  • the criteria can include a user-assigned priority of the contact, a frequency at which the subscriber and/or UE 1 communicates with the contact and/or a given user device operated by the contact, an amount of time since the subscriber and/or UE 1 previously communicated with the contact and/or the user device operated by the contact, social relationship characteristics between the subscriber and the contact (e.g.
  • the contacts are partitioned into sub-groups based on that priority. For example, if the criterion is social relationships, there may be a sub-group of family members, a sub-group of friends, a sub-group of work contacts, and so on.
  • the criterion is the amount of time since the subscriber last communicated with a contact
  • one or more user devices operated by one or more contacts of the subscriber may wish to receive and/or transmit presence update messages at a particular frequency or no more frequently than a particular maximum rate, as discussed with reference to step 520 A of FIG. 4A . Knowing that, UE 1 may combine those contacts with the same preferred update frequency or maximum rate into the same sub-groups, then transmit presence update messages to them in compliance with their preferred frequency information.
  • a particular contact can satisfy the criteria associated with more than one sub-group, referred to herein as a “multi-group contact.”
  • the given subscriber may work with his/her brother, which qualifies the brother to be a constituent of both family and co-worker sub-groups.
  • the given subscriber may have just terminated a phone call with a given contact, which qualifies the given contact to be a constitute in a first sub-group for contacts contacted by the given subscriber within the last week and a second sub-group for contacts contacted by the given subscriber within the last 24 hours.
  • UE 1 will attempt to assign the multi-group contact to a qualifying sub-group expected to be associated with a highest priority.
  • UE 1 determines a priority of each sub-group based on the priorities of their constituent contacts.
  • the sub-groups can be populated with contacts in a particular priority range such that the priority of the sub-groups is already known and the determination of 510 B merely determines which sub-groups include at least one contact.
  • the priority determination of 510 B can average the priorities of the constituent contacts of each sub-group to calculate the priority of the sub-group. In either case, a sub-group of higher priority contacts will generally have a higher priority than a sub-group of lower priority contacts.
  • a sub-group of family members may have a higher priority than a sub-group of co-workers (e.g., although these priorities may shift over time, with family members prioritized during the weekend and co-workers prioritized during normal work hours).
  • a sub-group of contacts with whom the subscriber has communicated within the previous 24 hours may have a higher priority than contacts with whom the subscriber has communicated within the previous week.
  • Each sub-group may, but is not required to, be transmitted presence update messages at a different frequency.
  • presence update messages may be transmitted to a sub-group of family members more frequently than to a sub-group of co-workers if the priority assigned to the sub-group of family members is higher than the priority assigned to the sub-group of coworkers.
  • not all sub-groups must be transmitted a presence update message in accordance with an assigned frequency. For example, after obtaining the sub-group priorities, UE 1 can determine whether any sub-group priorities are below a given threshold and then exclude the associated sub-groups (if any) having a priority below a given threshold from a presence update frequency assignment. For example, a sub-group that was not assigned any contacts will not receive presence update messages. In another example, a sub-group that includes only low priority contacts will not receive presence update messages. In FIG. 4B , Sub-Group 3 is provided as an example of a sub-group that does not receive presence update messages from UE 1 .
  • UE 1 transmits at least one presence update message to each contact in each of Sub-Groups 1 and 2 . While not shown explicitly in FIG. 4B , the transmission(s) of 515 B can be performed in accordance with each sub-group's respective frequency, as shown in FIG. 4A .
  • the presence update messages transmitted at 515 B can include (i) the determined presence information from 500 B, (ii) requests for presence information feedback from corresponding target contacts to which the presence update messages are transmitted and/or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii).
  • each contact except UE 2 provide presence update feedback to UE 1 at 520 B and 525 B.
  • UE 1 's presence update messages only requested presence information feedback from the other contacts, and/or if UE 2 either did not receive UE 1 's presence update message or chose not to respond to UE 1 's presence update message (e.g., a user of UE 2 has blocked presence update transmissions, etc.).
  • UE 2 did not respond to UE 1 's presence update message.
  • a priority level associated with UE 2 may be lowered, resulting in UE 2 being removed from Sub-Group 1 and also from the Presence Update Group.
  • a contact with whom the subscriber has not communicated in a day may become a contact with whom the subscriber has not communicated in a week (e.g., a contact inactivity timer for a particular contact, such as UE 2 , may have just passed the 24 hour mark, etc.), and thus that contact would be reassigned to the appropriate sub-group.
  • a contact who is no longer a friend of the subscriber would be removed from the sub-group corresponding to friends of the subscriber (e.g., based on an assessment that the given subscriber has changed a social status of the contact from friend to non-friend), or a friend could become a family member through marriage.
  • a contact removed from a particular sub-group can either be removed from the Presence Update Group entirely (e.g., the previous friend who is no longer a friend is removed entirely) or simply transferred from one sub-group to another sub-group based on the respective change in priority of the contact (e.g., the friend who is now a family member can be moved to a higher-priority sub-group).
  • the overall priority of that sub-group could change.
  • the priority criterion is a threshold period of time elapsing without communication between the subscriber and the contacts in a given sub-group, for example a sub-group of co-workers, and that threshold is crossed because the subscriber is on vacation, the priority of those contacts and thus the sub-group could be reduced.
  • UE 1 would send presence update messages at a lower frequency than it had been in response to the reduction in priority.
  • one or more user devices operated by one or more contacts of the subscriber may wish to receive and/or transmit presence update messages at a particular frequency or no more frequently than a particular maximum rate, as discussed with reference to step 520 A of FIG. 4A .
  • one or more of those contacts may change its preferred frequency and inform UE 1 of the change through presence update feedback.
  • Such a change would constitute a priority change for purposes of step 535 B and require UE 1 to re-identify the plurality of sub-groups within the Presence Update Group, as shown in step 540 B.
  • UE 1 transmits presence update messages to the updated sub-groups. As shown, UE 2 is not transmitted a presence update message. If at some point UE 1 receives a response from UE 2 , UE 1 may reevaluate the priority assigned to UE 2 , as discussed with reference to 535 B. In other words, UE 2 's removal from the Presence Update Group need not be permanent.
  • FIG. 5 shows an example flow block diagram 400 of a network according to one or more embodiments.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a representative example of a hypothetical subscriber user named “ME” having his/her user device 402 ME, interconnected with three other subscriber user devices, labeled 402 A, 402 D and 402 F interconnected through a server (or distributed server resource) 404 via client-to-server links 406 ME, 406 A, 406 D, and 406 F.
  • the user devices 402 ME, 402 A, 402 D and 402 F are referenced generically as 402
  • the client-to-server links 406 ME, 406 A, 406 D, and 406 F are referenced generically as 406 .
  • the client-to-server links 406 are not necessarily specific to the disclosed embodiments.
  • the client-to-server links 406 may be a control channel within a wireless network protocol. This is only one example, and is not intended as any limitation on the scope of implementations.
  • each FIG. 5 “link” 406 is a functional aspect, and not necessarily a single link, or any particular physical link. Persons of ordinary skill in the art, upon reading this disclosure, will understand this and can readily select appropriate media and protocol(s) for implementing client-to-server links 406 , or equivalents. Further detailed description of the links 406 is therefore omitted.
  • FIG. 5 various stages or steps of message transmission for one updating operation initiated by the user device 402 ME are shown. It may be assumed that the described messages travel on the illustrated client-to-server link 406 . However, it will be understood that one or more of the messages, e.g., the PV update request 408 ME sent by the user device 402 ME, may be communicated over alternate links (not shown in FIG. 5 ).
  • the PV update request 408 ME sent by the user device 402 ME (as depicted in 505 A of FIG. 4A and 515B of FIG. 4B ) includes the PV of that user device 402 ME at the time PV update request 408 ME is sent (as depicted in 500 A of FIG. 4A and 500B of FIG. 4B ).
  • the PV of the user device 402 ME will be termed “pv 1 .”
  • pv 2 ,” “pv 5 ,” and “pv 7 ” are the respective PV values sent by, and associated with, the user devices 402 A, 402 D and 402 F, and that these PVs characterize the respective communication status of these user devices.
  • the PV update request 408 ME identifies the subscriber “ME” with a field value labeled “MyIP.” It may be assumed that MyIP includes an identifier unique to the subscriber ME and, for purposes of illustration, includes ME's IP address. It will be understood that for purposes of practicing embodiments as illustrated at FIG. 5 the IP address is not necessary.
  • the responses that the user devices 402 A, 402 D and 402 F send after receiving the PV update request 408 ME e.g., such as 510 A and 515 A in FIG. 4A or 520 B and 525 B in FIG. 4B ) are shown as having the sender's IP address and, also likewise, these IP addresses are not necessary for practicing embodiments as illustrated at FIG. 5 .
  • the PV update request 408 ME has, in addition to the previously described “MyIP” field and “pv 1 ” field characterizing subscriber ME's communication status, target addresses A, D and F. It may be assumed that the reason the targets are the user devices 402 A, 402 D and 402 F is that the A, D and F subscribers are in the Presence Update Group maintained by the user device 402 ME. For purposes of understanding the concepts depicted at FIG. 5 , though, the specific reasons for 402 ME sending PV update request 408 ME to user devices 402 A, 402 D and 402 F are irrelevant.
  • the PV update request 408 ME enters the server 404 and, in response, the server 404 transmits the PV update request as 410 ME to the user device 402 A, as 412 ME to the user device 402 D, and as 414 ME to the user device 402 F.
  • the user device 402 A responds to the PV update request message 410 ME by sending response message 416 ME (e.g., such as 510 A and 515 A in FIG. 4A or 520 B and 525 B in FIG. 4B ), having the user device 402 A's pv 2 presence value, and the server 404 forwards this as PV response message 418 ME to the user device 402 ME.
  • response message 416 ME e.g., such as 510 A and 515 A in FIG. 4A or 520 B and 525 B in FIG. 4B
  • the user device 402 D responds to the PV update request communication 412 ME by sending its pv 5 presence value in the PV response message 420 ME, which the server 404 forwards as PV response message 422 ME to the user device 402 ME (as depicted in 510 A and 515 A of FIG. 4A and 520B and 525 B of FIG. 4B ).
  • the user device 402 F is shown as not responding to the PV update request communication 414 ME (e.g., as depicted by UE 2 's failure to respond to UE 1 's presence update message from 515 B in FIG. 4B ).
  • This failure to respond may be caused, for example, by the user device 402 F having low reception quality.
  • the user device 402 ME (and other user devices as well) has a mechanism for detecting this and subsequent failures to receive a response.
  • user devices 402 may set a timer when a PV update request is sent and, if the time expires, re-send the request.
  • the user's devices may have a maximum number of retries and, if the number is exceeded, designate in the user device Presence Update Group that the target user device is UNAVAILABLE (as depicted in 535 B of FIG. 4B ).
  • the user device 402 ME sends the resend PV update request as 424 ME to the server 404 , and the server 404 forwards to the user device 402 F as PV update request communication 426 ME.
  • the user device 402 F does respond, with PV update response message 428 ME, and the server 404 forwards this PV update response message 428 ME as 430 ME to the user device 402 ME.
  • the user device 402 ME now has an updated Presence Update Group, reflecting the pv 2 , pv 5 and pv 7 values it received from the user devices 402 A, 402 D and 402 F.
  • the user devices 402 may include a mechanism to distinguish between received PV update requests and received responses to their own PV update requests, based on inspection of these messages. For example, the user devices 402 may apply a format to their PV update requests that is different from the format they apply to their responses to PV update requests received from other subscribers' user devices.
  • the user devices 402 may be configured to include a bit field in both their PV update requests and their responses to PV update requests, and to set a bit value within that field as a flag differentiating between PV update requests and responses to PV update requests.
  • a bit field may be a single bit width, and a flag scheme may assign a value of logical “1” for PV update requests and a logical “0” for responses to PV update requests.
  • one benefit of such forming of a PV update request to be distinguishable on its face from a response to a PV update request is that a user device such as 402 ME, by simple inspection of a received message such as the PV response message 418 ME sent by the user device 402 A, will not interpret that response message 418 ME as a PV update request sent by the user device 402 A. It is conceivable, at least in this example, that such a misinterpretation could result in the user device 402 ME sending a response to that PV response message 418 ME back to the user device 402 A. It is also conceivable that, at least in a hypothetical construction in which the user devices 402 have no other mechanism for distinguishing between PV update requests and responses to PV update requests, an unacceptable back-and-forth messaging could potentially result.
  • the user devices 402 may be configured to apply various different triggering events for sending PV update requests to target the user devices 402 .
  • One example trigger event may be a timeout, using as a reference a given maximum permitted time for the user device to maintain an entry in its Presence Update Group for another subscriber's user device, without the PV for that entry being updated (as depicted in 535 B of FIG. 4B ). In one aspect this may be a default timeout.
  • the user device may be configurable to apply different timeouts to different ones of the subscriber user devices in its Presence Update Group (as depicted in 510 B of FIG. 4B ).
  • a user device may be configured to select the particular timeout it applies to each subscriber's user device in its Presence Update Group based on the type(s) of communication(s) the user device is currently having, or recently had, with that subscriber's user device.
  • the user device 402 ME may have received the updated pv 2 in a PV update request (not explicitly shown in FIG. 5 ) sent by the user device 402 A.
  • a PV update request (not explicitly shown in FIG. 5 ) sent by the user device 402 A.
  • the user device 402 ME applies a timeout value of EX for its updating the entry for the user device 402 A in its Presence Update Group. Therefore, if at time T 0 +EX the user device 402 ME has not received another PV update from the user device 402 A, the user device 402 ME will automatically send a PV update request to the user device 402 A.
  • the user device 402 ME may then wait for a reply from the user device 402 A.
  • the user device 402 ME may, in conjunction with sending the PV update request to the user device 402 A, set another timer with a “wait for reply” timeout.
  • the user device 402 ME may simply use the same timer and same timeout that it used for determining when to first send this PV update request to the user device 402 A. In other words, if at time T 0 +EX the user device 402 ME sends the above-described PV update request it resets the timer (either to zero or to EX, depending on whether an incrementing or decrementing counter is used).
  • the user device 402 ME updating the pv 2 that it was storing for the user device 402 A
  • all the user devices 402 may be similarly configured, at least with respect to their schemes for updating their Presence Update Group to reflect updated PVs of other subscribers' user devices 402 . Therefore, since the user device 402 ME at T 0 was in communication with the user device 402 A then, from the user device 402 A's point of view, it was in communication with the user device 402 ME.
  • the user device 402 A was maintaining its local stored copy of the PV value pv 1 of the user device 402 ME, and was also applying a scheme (which may or may not be identical to the scheme applied by the user device 402 ME) for updating, its local stored pv 1 of the user device 402 ME. Therefore, whichever among the user devices 402 ME and 402 A first reaches its own timeout value with respect to the PV it stores for the other (or whichever of these user devices 402 ME, 402 A first experiences another type triggering event for sending its own PV to the other, prior to timeout by the other) will be the user device 402 that first sends the PV update request.
  • a scheme which may or may not be identical to the scheme applied by the user device 402 ME
  • contemplated example scenarios may provide, referring for purposes of illustration to the FIG. 5 example 400 , thousands and thousands of the user devices such as 402 being interconnected (e.g., through a server or server resource such as 404 ) at any given time. It is further contemplated that thousands of subscriber-to-subscriber communications through their respective user devices 402 may be extant at any given instant, many of which may be multi-member, multi-participant or multi-attendee groups. It will therefore be appreciated, when establishing specifications and rules for the setting of timeouts and other factors that each user device 402 applies for determining when to send their respective PV update requests that such scenarios may be taken into account.
  • one general guideline for establishing such specifications and rules is the following: if the user devices maintain too many other subscriber PVs, and/or the user devices send PV update requests too often, then one or both of the user devices or the network may be unnecessarily overloaded. As one additional example of such overload, it will be readily appreciated that timeouts being too short may increase the likelihood, especially in a group communication, of multiple participants' user devices unnecessarily sending PV update requests to other participant devices. Also, as will be further understood from the detailed description in reference to FIGS.
  • one or more example embodiments provide for throttling and other adaptivity of the number of subscribers maintained in the Presence Update Groups being maintained by the user device, as depicted in FIG. 4B , and of the frequency of the user devices sending PV update request, as depicted in FIG. 4A .
  • the user devices may be configured to increase the timeout value (i.e., increase the maximum permitted time between PV updates) in relation to the number of PVs the user device is maintaining (as depicted in 505 A, 520 A, and 525 A of FIG. 4A ). Stated differently, according to one such aspect the longer the Presence Update Group the longer the time between PV update requests being sent. Further to this one aspect, the user devices may be configured to increase (incrementally or threshold step-wise) the timeout for PVs of other subscribers in large groups. The respective group size thresholds for increasing the timeout may be fixed independent of the type of communication, or may be further adaptable to be based on the type of communication (e.g., whether a group is playing an interactive game).
  • a threshold “time since last communication” or equivalent by which other subscribers are deleted from the user device's Presence Update Group may be reduced in correspondence with an increase in the length of the Presence Update Group.
  • the criteria of a communication time-based sub-group can be modified, which may occur at 535 B of FIG. 4B , in an example.
  • the user devices may be configured to categorize the Presence Update Group into sub-groups based on each PV's associated “time since last communication” (as depicted in steps 510 B and 515 B of FIG. 4B ), and to apply larger timeout values to sub-groups having a longer “time since last communication” (e.g., as depicted in steps 535 B, 540 B, and 545 B of FIG. 4B ).
  • the other subscribers in the Presence Update Group of a user device may be categorized according to one or more characteristics of the particular listed subscriber. For example, a Category 1 (or Sub-Group 1 ) may be important business contacts, a Category 2 (or Sub-Group 2 ) may be persons that, in relation to the subscriber whose user device is maintaining such the Presence Update Group, may not require as accurate (i.e., recently updated) of a PV.
  • a user device may be configured, as previously described, to cease performing Presence Update Group updating when that user device is locked. This may also conserve the user device's battery power.
  • a user device may have multiple lock modes, and such a user device may be configured to determine whether to cease performing Presence Update Group updating based on which of the lock modes the user device is placed in. For example, as previously described, the user device may have one lock mode for preventing unauthorized persons from using the device and inadvertent key disabling lock mode for preventing inadvertent key pressing that may occur when placed in a user's pocket.
  • a user device may be configured to provide the subscriber with an option of maintaining Presence Update Group updating while the user device is in the inadvertent key disabling lock mode.
  • the determination of 535 B will result in a return to 515 B instead of advancing to 540 B and 545 B even if the priorities of the constituent contacts and/or sub-groups are determined to have changed.
  • a user device may be configured to reduce its frequency of, or to cease sending PV update requests when the subscriber is in an application in which he/she is likely to remain for an extended duration, e.g., a media player or game (e.g., determined at 520 A of FIG. 4A , in an example).
  • a media player or game e.g., determined at 520 A of FIG. 4A , in an example.
  • the subscriber's user device may present an initial display reflecting the content (if any) of its Presence Update Group (e.g., as depicted in step 505 B of FIG. 4B ).
  • these may be other subscribers with which this subscriber has recently communicated.
  • these may be other subscribers with which this subscriber has a still ongoing communication but, as one illustrative example, was forced to temporarily exit the networking application and attend to another matter.
  • Presence information is generally only relevant for a very short period of time.
  • presence information is stripped from presence update messages that cannot be delivered or are not deliverable.
  • presence update messages may be omitted from the network history. That is, presence update messages that would normally be queued in the network history may be either omitted or only stored for a short period of time compared to non-presence update messages.
  • the FIG. 6 example Presence Update Group 500 in its depicted state, has a record 506 for the subscriber associated with the user device storing this list, and has a record 506 for each of five other subscribers, these having subscriber name field values of “A,” “B,” “D,” “E” and “F.”
  • the example Presence Update Group 500 also has one sub-group element named “C.” It will be understood that “A” . . . “F” may be actual names or may be monikers.
  • the record 506 for each individual subscriber in the Presence Update Group 500 has an associated PV value in its field 504 .
  • the record for sub-group element C does not have a PV value.
  • sub-group element C does not have a unitary communication status, at least with respect to being reachable through the user device.
  • the subscriber associated with the user device storing the FIG. 6 example Presence Update Group 500 does, however, know the PV for each member of sub-group C.
  • the Presence Update Group 500 indicates in its subscriber name field 502 -C the name of its member subscribers A, D, and E, and all of these and their respective PVs also appear in the list.
  • sub-group element C is an example whereby a constituent contact within a particular sub-group can actually correspond to an abstract, or grouping, of contacts, and need not be a specific, single contact.
  • the FIG. 6 example Presence Update Group 500 shows an example grouping of the Presence Status records 506 into a Sub-Group 1 , Sub-Group 2 , and Sub-Group 3 .
  • An example according to one aspect will be described in reference to FIG. 7 , using these example sub-groups.
  • parameters by which Sub-Groups 1 , 2 and 3 may be maintained are recency of communication, various characterizations of the other subscribers (e.g., important business contact or less important entity), and alphabetical order.
  • FIG. 7 shows in conjunction with the FIG. 6 example Presence Update Group 500 one example display scheme 604 of a local display scheme for presenting information from such a Presence Update Group to the subscriber having the user device.
  • the FIG. 7 example display scheme 604 will assume a user device configured (initially or by the subscriber) to display in active screen areas 606 only subscribers in Sub-Group 1 of the Presence Update Group 500 . Accordingly the active screen area 606 shows subscribers A and B, and sub-group element C. In one aspect, one or more of the active screen areas 606 may be highlighted by color, brightness or, as depicted in the FIG. 7 example, by a foreground versus background arrangement. A default highlighting or other designation scheme may be used, or one or more of the active areas may be selected on-the-fly by the user, e.g., using a single tap to designate. In the FIG.
  • the sub-group element C is set as a foreground 608 , while the remaining Sub-Group 1 subscribers are in the background area 610 .
  • a user device may be configured so that the user designating a group such as the example sub-group element C affects a selection 602 of status information from the Presence Update Group 500 characterizing the sub-group element C, which may be displayed on a detailed display area such as 612 that is described in later sections.
  • FIG. 7 example display scheme 604 and its background-foreground feature is not the only manner according to these embodiments for the user device to inform the subscriber, or to maintain for the subscriber's convenient retrieval, information on other subscribers in the Presence Update Group 500 .
  • a user device may be configured to present only one of the other subscribers from the Presence Update Group 500 and, in one aspect, may inform the subscriber that additional other subscribers or groups from the Presence Update Group 500 are “on-deck.”
  • the subscriber may have the user device display the “on-deck” subscriber(s) and/or group(s).
  • a user device may select as “on-deck” other subscribers or groups from the Presence Update Group 500 with whom the subscriber has a higher estimated likelihood of wishing communication, based on factors such as the type of communication (e.g., voice, image, interactive activity), recency of communication, subscriber history.
  • the type of communication e.g., voice, image, interactive activity
  • recency of communication e.g., subscriber history.
  • the user device may be configured to display information about a sub-group and/or about an individual subscriber. This may be by a default setting or by on-the-fly input from the user. As previously described, in one aspect the above-described highlighting or other designation scheme may also cause the user device to select 602 and display such information.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates an example of this aspect by a detail display region 612 that displays the members of sub-group element C.
  • the user device may be configured to display members who, apart from the sub-group element, are not in Sub-Group 1 . This is illustrated in the FIG. 7 example, as group C members D and F appear in the detail display region 612 regardless of these subscribers D and F being in Sub-Group 2 and Sub-Group 3 , respectively.
  • FIG. 7 shows one example display of portions of a Presence Update Group from a subscriber who may have had no interrupting events, such as loss of coverage or user device crash.
  • the user device may be configured to have schemes for an initial display of Presence Status information, after such an interruption.
  • an initial display may be configured as an “Optimistic Presence,” in which upon a triggering event such as power-up or re-boot the user device will initially present the last valid display, e.g., the display the subscriber was looking at when the battery level caused his/her device to shutdown. The user device will then send out PV update requests, receive PV update requests from other subscribers, and respond to such PV update requests until a new valid state is attained.
  • a triggering event such as power-up or re-boot
  • the user device initial display may be configured as a “Pessimistic Presence,” in which upon a triggering event such as power-up or re-boot the user device will initially present the subscriber with all contacts in his/her address books being “unavailable” absent receipt of a new PV.
  • a triggering event such as power-up or re-boot the user device will initially present the subscriber with all contacts in his/her address books being “unavailable” absent receipt of a new PV.
  • this figure depicts only an example PV update request from the user device 402 ME to the user devices 402 A, 402 D and 402 F, and has no explicit depiction of other communication among these user devices 402 .
  • Such communication may include data, and the data may include voice, image, text and, in one aspect, the user device coordinate data.
  • the media, link and protocol for communicating such data are not necessarily specific to practicing distributed, client-side presence management according to these embodiments.
  • data sharing may be mediated through the server 404 , as shown by the example user device to server data sharing links 702 , 704 , 706 and 708 .
  • PV update requests such as the example PV update request 408 ME may include the IP address of the sender.
  • the example PV update request (e.g., 505 A and/or 525 A of FIG. 4A , 515 B and/or 545 B of FIG. 4B , etc.) includes the IP address of the user device 402 ME as MyIP.
  • all target user devices include their IP address back in their respective responses (e.g., 510 A and/or 515 A of FIG. 4A , 520 B and/or 525 B of FIG. 4B , etc.) to other user device's PV update requests.
  • the response 420 ME sent from the user device 402 D back to the user device 402 ME includes as “D-IP” the IP address of the user device 402 D.
  • each subscriber's user device can theoretically obtain the IP address of each other subscriber's user device with which that user device has communicated (e.g., assuming there are no lost packets, and privacy settings at each user device permit sharing of presence information, and so on).
  • one or more subscribers may utilize one another's IP address to establish a data sharing links outside of the server 404 , i.e., “off-the-record” with respect to that server.
  • FIG. 8 shows one example 710 of such an “off-the-record” link.
  • the user devices may be configured to prompt the subscriber to establish such “off-the-record” links. For example, as shown in the FIG. 8 display 712 the user may highlight, or bring to the foreground, an image field representing another subscriber, e.g., the image field such as 716 representing subscriber F and, in response, the user device may prompt with a request, as shown by the example request 714 .
  • the 408 ME communication is first sent, at time T 0 , over link 406 ME to the server 404 .
  • a data sharing link was already established, at time T 0 , between the user device 402 ME and the user device 402 A.
  • the established data sharing link is formed by, for example, the user device 402 ME to server 404 data sharing link 702 and the user device 402 A to server 404 data sharing link 704 .
  • the session for the data sharing is, for example, an active media sharing and, further, that at time T 0 the user device 402 ME is performing (through the example data sharing links 702 , 704 ) a data push to the user device 402 A. It will be understood that practice according to these aspects may be performed with data sharing sessions other than an active media session, and that the active media session is only for purposes of illustration of concepts.
  • the data sharing link may carry that PV update request.
  • the data sharing link may carry that PV update request.
  • the PV update request 408 ME sent at time T 0 going over link 406 ME it may be embedded in the multimedia session data the user device 402 ME is pushing (e.g., 505 A and/or 525 A of FIG. 4A , 515 B and/or 545 B of FIG.
  • the timers in both of the contacts in the data sharing session must reset their respective updating timers for the other.
  • the receiving user device can, upon receiving the embedded PV update request from the second user device, reset its timer for that device.
  • the sending (now actually a receiving) user device can, upon receiving the requested updated presence PV embedded in, for example, the ACK message from the receiving (now actually sending) user device, reset its updating timer for that receiving user device.
  • the user devices may be configured to determine, while in data sharing sessions with one another, which channel, link or mode of communication to use (i.e., data sharing link such as 702 , 704 , 706 and/or 708 , or control or other link, e.g., 406 ME, 406 A, 406 D and/or 406 F), to use for sending the PV update requests.
  • Channel, link or mode of communication to use i.e., data sharing link such as 702 , 704 , 706 and/or 708 , or control or other link, e.g., 406 ME, 406 A, 406 D and/or 406 F
  • Rules and thresholds for making such decisions may be application-specific and/or may be environment specific.
  • determining factors for which channel or link may more practically carry presence updating information may include the following: i) the size of the presence updating communications, and ii) whether the data session is a high performance signaling or a best effort signaling.
  • FIG. 9 is a functional block flow diagram 800 showing one example presence communication according to one channel or link option aspect as described above. It will be assumed that this FIG. 9 functional flow may be executed by, for example, programmable processor resources in a subscriber user device (e.g., UE 1 ) according to one or more embodiments.
  • the communication may, for example, be a media data to be pushed in a media sharing session. In the alternative, the communication may be an ACK/NAK in response to a push. If the answer is YES, the flow goes to 804 to determine if a common channel, assumed as having a limited capacity, will be used for the communication.
  • the flow goes to block 808 to determine if there is adequate capacity to attach, or embed, the presence information. If the answer at block 808 is YES, the flow goes to block 806 , attaches or embeds the presence information (e.g. a PV update request or a response to a PV update request) in the communication, and returns to block 802 to wait for another shared data session communication. If the answer at block 808 is NO, meaning there is not adequate capacity to carry the presence information the flow returns to block 802 .
  • the presence information e.g. a PV update request or a response to a PV update request
  • the processor of the user device may, after detecting a certain statistic or threshold in occurrences of NO at block 808 , switch to sending the presence updating information by a non-shared channel.
  • the process of FIG. 9 may execute in conjunction with the target frequency at which a particular sub-group of the Presence Update Group is to receive presence update messages from a particular UE. For example, to put FIG. 9 in context with FIGS. 4A and/or 4 B, this means that the process of FIG. 9 may execute as a pre-cursor to the transmissions of 505 A, 510 A, 515 A and/or 525 A of FIG. 4A and/or 515 B, 520 B, 525 B and/or 545 B of FIG. 4B .
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a communication device 1000 that includes logic configured to perform functionality.
  • the communication device 1000 can correspond to any of the above-noted communication devices, including but not limited to UEs 102 , 108 , 110 , 112 or 200 , Node Bs or base stations 120 , the RNC or base station controller 122 , a packet data network end-point (e.g., SGSN 160 , GGSN 165 , a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc.), any of the servers 170 through 186 , etc.
  • communication device 1000 can correspond to any electronic device that is configured to communicate with (or facilitate communication with) one or more other entities over a network.
  • the communication device 1000 includes logic configured to receive and/or transmit information 1005 .
  • the logic configured to receive and/or transmit information 1005 can include a wireless communications interface (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, 2G, 3G, etc.) such as a wireless transceiver and associated hardware (e.g., an RF antenna, a MODEM, a modulator and/or demodulator, etc.).
  • a wireless communications interface e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, 2G, 3G, etc.
  • a wireless transceiver and associated hardware e.g., an RF antenna, a MODEM, a modulator and/or demodulator, etc.
  • the logic configured to receive and/or transmit information 1005 can correspond to a wired communications interface (e.g., a serial connection, a USB or Firewire connection, an Ethernet connection through which the Internet 175 can be accessed, etc.).
  • a wired communications interface e.g., a serial connection, a USB or Firewire connection, an Ethernet connection through which the Internet 175 can be accessed, etc.
  • the communication device 1000 corresponds to some type of network-based server (e.g., SGSN 160 , GGSN 165 , application server 170 , etc.)
  • the logic configured to receive and/or transmit information 1005 can correspond to an Ethernet card, in an example, that connects the network-based server to other communication entities via an Ethernet protocol.
  • the communication device 1000 further includes logic configured to process information 1010 .
  • the logic configured to process information 1010 can include at least a processor.
  • Example implementations of the type of processing that can be performed by the logic configured to process information 1010 includes but is not limited to performing determinations, establishing connections, making selections between different information options, performing evaluations related to data, interacting with sensors coupled to the communication device 1000 to perform measurement operations, converting information from one format to another (e.g., between different protocols such as .wmv to .avi, etc.), and so on.
  • the processor included in the logic configured to process information 1010 can correspond to a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.
  • a general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine.
  • a processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
  • the communication device 1000 further includes logic configured to store information 1015 .
  • the logic configured to store information 1015 can include at least a non-transitory memory and associated hardware (e.g., a memory controller, etc.).
  • the non-transitory memory included in the logic configured to store information 1015 can correspond to RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art.
  • the logic configured to store information 1015 can also include software that, when executed, permits the associated hardware of the logic configured to store information 1015 to perform its storage function(s). However, the logic configured to store information 1015 does not correspond to software alone, and the logic configured to store information 1015 relies at least in part upon hardware to achieve its functionality.
  • the communication device 1000 further optionally includes logic configured to present information 1020 .
  • the logic configured to present information 1020 can include at least an output device and associated hardware.
  • the output device can include a video output device (e.g., a display screen, a port that can carry video information such as USB, HDMI, etc.), an audio output device (e.g., speakers, a port that can carry audio information such as a microphone jack, USB, HDMI, etc.), a vibration device and/or any other device by which information can be formatted for output or actually outputted by a user or operator of the communication device 1000 .
  • a video output device e.g., a display screen, a port that can carry video information such as USB, HDMI, etc.
  • an audio output device e.g., speakers, a port that can carry audio information such as a microphone jack, USB, HDMI, etc.
  • a vibration device e.g., a vibration device by which information can be formatted for output or actually outputted by a user or operator
  • any software used to facilitate the functionality of the configured logics of 1005 through 1025 can be stored in the non-transitory memory associated with the logic configured to store information 1015 , such that the configured logics of 1005 through 1025 each performs their functionality (i.e., in this case, software execution) based in part upon the operation of software stored by the logic configured to store information 1015 .
  • hardware that is directly associated with one of the configured logics can be borrowed or used by other configured logics from time to time.
  • the processor of the logic configured to process information 1010 can format data into an appropriate format before being transmitted by the logic configured to receive and/or transmit information 1005 , such that the logic configured to receive and/or transmit information 1005 performs its functionality (i.e., in this case, transmission of data) based in part upon the operation of hardware (i.e., the processor) associated with the logic configured to process information 1010 .
  • the configured logics or “logic configured to” of 1005 through 1025 are not limited to specific logic gates or elements, but generally refer to the ability to perform the functionality described herein (either via hardware or a combination of hardware and software). Thus, the configured logics or “logic configured to” of 1005 through 1025 are not necessarily implemented as logic gates or logic elements despite sharing the word “logic.”
  • a software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art.
  • An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor.
  • an embodiment of the invention can include a computer readable media embodying a method for client-side distributed presence management accord to one or more of the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, practice is not limited to illustrated examples and any mechanisms for performing the functionality described herein are included in embodiments of the invention.

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US13/303,751 US9036545B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2011-11-23 Exchanging presence information in a communications network
CN201610153333.7A CN105681465A (zh) 2010-12-08 2011-12-08 在通信网络中交换存在信息
JP2013543351A JP6040160B2 (ja) 2010-12-08 2011-12-08 通信ネットワークにおけるプレゼンス情報の交換
KR1020137017705A KR101576929B1 (ko) 2010-12-08 2011-12-08 통신 네트워크에서 존재 정보 교환
BR112013014295A BR112013014295A2 (pt) 2010-12-08 2011-12-08 permutar informações de presença em uma rede de comunicações
EP20110802831 EP2649819B1 (en) 2010-12-08 2011-12-08 Method and apparatus for exchanging presence information in a communications network
CN201180065072.9A CN103314604B (zh) 2010-12-08 2011-12-08 在通信网络中交换存在信息
PCT/US2011/063994 WO2012078903A1 (en) 2010-12-08 2011-12-08 Exchanging presence information in a communications network
ES11802831.5T ES2541286T3 (es) 2010-12-08 2011-12-08 Procedimiento y aparato de intercambio de información de presencia en una red de comunicaciones
JP2015199275A JP6153983B2 (ja) 2010-12-08 2015-10-07 通信ネットワークにおけるプレゼンス情報の交換

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